The Spire STL Pipeline interconnects with the existing Rockies Express Pipeline in Scott County, Illinois. The  route includes 65 miles of steel underground pipeline running through Scott, Greene and Jersey counties in Illinois and St. Charles and St. Louis counties in Missouri.

As an interstate project, the Spire STL Pipeline was reviewed for siting and permitting by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The FERC is the lead agency for other federal and state, and local permitting authorities. The pipeline will be wholly owned and operated by Spire STL Pipeline LLC. 

The new build pipeline will be constructed with corrosion resistant, high-quality steel and have a 24-inch diameter with a capacity of 400,000 Dth/D. As an interstate pipeline, the Spire STL Pipeline will be permitted and regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

The pipeline is located in Missouri and Illinois and cross a total of five counties. In Illinois, the project crosses portions of Greene, Scott and Jersey Counties. In Missouri, the pipeline crosses portions of St. Louis and St. Charles Counties.

Protecting the environment is important to us. We live and work in the area just like you and want to preserve the community, sensitive areas and endangered species. The route will be surveyed for any environmental and cultural concerns. The pipeline was routed around significant obstacles and all protected species, both plant and animal, will be avoided. The Spire STL Pipeline project used well-established pipeline construction methods such as horizontal directional drilling to avoid environmental impacts where appropriate. The pipeline is located underground allowing for the land to be restored to its pre-construction state after the line is in-service.

An easement allows a pipeline operator to have access to a portion of land for purposes outlined in a Grant of Easement agreement with the landowner. The pipeline operator will not own the land it will only grant the operator and its contractors the ability to access the right-of-way. Generally, the permanent right-of-way is 50 feet wide.

The natural gas pipeline system is an important part of every community across the country. Pipelines play an important role in everyone’s lives and are essential to the nation’s industries. Pipelines are the safest, most reliable and efficient manner of transporting natural gas and other petroleum products. It is safer than using rail and trucks and has a lower impact on emissions. Modern pipelines have remote shut off and 24-hour monitoring to detect any issues with the integrity of the line.

While we work hard to maintain a safe and reliable system, an occasional leak or damage may occur. In the event our natural gas pipeline is damaged and you smell an odor of natural gas, follow these steps: leave the building or area immediately; warn others and move to a safe area; don’t turn any appliances on or off, leave light switches in the current position and do not use a cell phone; from another location, call 911.

Safety is always our primary concern. We will take many active steps to ensure that the health, safety and security of the communities and the environment along our pipelines are maintained. These steps will include, but are not limited to, routine monitoring and patrolling of our pipelines via aircraft, vehicles, and on foot using a number of technologies.

The best way to keep up to date on the Spire STL Pipeline is by visiting this website. We will also send out notices and newsletters to landowners and other stakeholders. You can also find news releases issued to the media. If you ever have questions, feel free to call our toll free number at 844-885-7234.

We believe in offering a fair compensation for easements. That’s why our offer will be based on standard practices used in the appraisal industry to determine a fair market value for the land rights. We will be open and transparent in our process. You will be provided with information that describes how the offer was derived. We encourage you to review the offer, consult with an appraiser or attorney, if you desire, and provide the land agent with any supporting material that should be considered.

It is our genuine goal to negotiate these land rights with each landowner along the route in a fair and equitable manner to reach a settlement that considers the needs of both parties. Should a negotiated settlement not be possible, the land rights may be acquired through the use of eminent domain.

Our right to use eminent domain to acquire the land rights to construct and maintain facilities on a landowner’s property is statutorily granted under Title 15, Section 717f(h) of the Natural Gas Act of 1938. Eminent domain authority grants a company land rights for a FERC-approved project without a grant of easement from the landowner. Eminent domain is only available once the project is approved by the FERC and a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity is issued.

The FERC does not approve a project unless it is in the public interest. Exercise of eminent domain is not a common practice in the natural gas industry. Instead, negotiated settlements are the norm. Our goal is not to use eminent domain. However, if this is the only option, we anticipate any eminent domain actions will be filed in federal court. If we file an action to acquire your property in federal district court, we satisfy our notice requirements by presenting the information provided in this letter to you, the property owner. The case itself would proceed in the United States district court for the district where the property is located, in accordance with federal law.